Combined turbine and condenser



June-10, 1930. F. HODGKINSONF 1,763,237

COMBINED TURBINE AND CONDENSER Filed July 21, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 1 Fig BY Ct.

ATTORN'EY wlTfiE s, INVENTOR 6., FaHoclQ kinson June 10, 1930. F. HODGKINSON 1,763,237

COMBINED TURBINE AND CONDENSER Filed July 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS 7 INVENTOR' BY mwm ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS HODGKINSON, OF SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELEGTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA COMBINED TURBINE AND CONDENSER Application filed July 21, 1927. Serial No. 207,485.

times desirable because of the elevation of the supply of condensing water, and by this arrangement a less depth of basement is required, and there are other savings in building costs. l/V-hen vertical condensers have been employed hitherto, they have been separate structures secured to the turbine outlet by a vertical or nearly vertical joint, fastened by bolts, packing, or other means. For dismantling the parts, this vertical joint is broken and the turbine and condenser taken apart, the one independently of the other. With this arrangement, space is required between the turbine proper and the condenser proper for the accommodation of this joint.

More particularly, therefore, an object of my invention is to provide for eliminating the joint between the turbine and the condenser'and thus, not only to reduce the spacial requirements, while affording greater ease of assembly and of dismantling, but also to improve the thermal efficiency of such an installation by placing the cooling surface of the condenser substantially within the.

exhaust chamber of the turbine.

Apparatus embodying the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an assembly view of a power installation arranged to show the manner in which the various members may be assembled or removed; 4

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the upper portion of the housing removed; i V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and, Fig. 5 is a detail view of a jack screw and its associated strut.

According to my invention, portions of the condenser shell are extended, not only to form the condenser exhaust inlet as usual, but also to enclose, preferably, the low pressure blading of the turbine. Should it be desirable, the upper and lower halves of the turbine casing may be made integral with theupper and lower portions, respectively, of the condenser shell.

However, in the preferred form of my invention, the turbine casing and the condenser shell are formed by sections which are joined substantially vertically, the arrangement being such that the entire upper half of the turbine casing and a portion of the condenser shell, associated therewith, may be removed as a unit. This may be accomplished without breaking any vertical joints, and thus, the space usually required for breaking such oints is saved.

Referring now to the drawings for a bet ter understanding of my invention, I show a pair of vertical condensers 10 and' 11 for receiving the exhaust from the turbine casing, indicated generally at 12.

The upper and lower halves, 13 and 14:, respectively, of the turbine casing 12, may be made of sections which are joined vertically, but, preferably, the members 13 and 1 1 are made integral, respectively, as shown. These members 13 and 14 are arranged to enclose the higher pressure blading and terminate in proximity to the low pressure blading, where they are joined, vertically, to portions of the condenser shells.

The upper and lower members 16 and 17 are joined vertically to the upper and lower members 13 and 14, respectively, the former being shaped to complete the turbine casing and also to provide the exhaust chamber for the turbine, as well as the passages for conducting steam to the condensing surface and to form portions of the condenser shells 18.

The condenser shells 18 are divided horizontally to correspond with the division of the upper halves 13 and 16 and the lower halves 14 and 17 of the housing for the turbine installation. In this way, I provide a continuous horizontal joint 20, which permits the respective upper and lower portions of the housing for the combined turbine and condenser installation to be parted in one operation.

The upper portion of the condenser shell 18 is completed by an arcuate member 21 which is joined vertically to the upper member 16, while the lower portion of the shell 18 is completed in a similar manner by the arcuate member 22, which is joined vertically to the lower member 17.

From the arrangement thus far described, it will be apparent that the nests of cooling tubes 23 and 24, which are vertically disposed within the respective shells 18, extend within the exhaust chamber of the turbine, and, thus, it is assured that the exhaust steam will have a short, direct path, which is free from bends or other obstructions which might have a tendency to create a back pressure.

The lower tube sheet 26, together with the inlet water box 27 for the nest 23, are secured to the flange on the lower end of the condenser shell 18, in the conventional manner. lVhile the tubes may be secured in any suitable manner, they are, preferably, expanded in both the lower tube plate 26, and in the upper tube plate 28. A return water box 29 is also secured to the upper tube sheet 28.

A cap member 31 is provided for completing the upper portion of the condenser shell 18, and for enclosing the upper water box 29. While this cap may be made integral, it is, preferably, formed of opposed arcuate members 32, which are joined vertically and are closed at their upper ends by a cover 33. The cap member 31, is, of course, joined horizonta ly at 30, to the upper periphery of the members 16 and 21.

It is thus seen that the cooling surface and the water boxes may expand and contract entirely independently of the turbine casing and of the condenser shell. In order to prevent vibrations of the upper water boxes, which, because of being supported by the tubes, would be pendulumic, I provide jack screws 34, which may in addition have the struts 36 associated therewith, so that, being disposed around the upper portion of the condenser shell, these jack screws and their associated struts will prevent vibration and, at the same time, will not restrict relative vertical motion of the water box due to expansion and contraction.

Suitable feet for supporting the structure are provided at 37, on the lower half of the turbine housing member 141, at 38 on the lower member 17, and at 39 on the lower member 22. A brace 40 is also disposed between the shells 18.

To dismantle the apparatus, the bolts from the horizontal joint 20 are removed and the jack screws 34; are slackened. This being done, allthe portions indicated in the drawings by the reference characters 13, 16, 21 and 31, may be removed as one plece, exposing the turbine rotor, which may be subsequently removed. Prior to breaking the joint 20, the horizontal joint at 30 may be broken, so that the cap member 31 may be removed lirst and subsequently the upper portion of the housing, indicated by the reference characters 13, 1(3 and 21. By the latter procedure, less head room, or less height of crane hook will be required.

In Fig. 41 is shown a modified arrangement which may be used with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, if desired. In the form shown in this view, the condenser shell is enlarged at its upper end, as at 41, so as to provide a flange 42 which is substantially in line with one of the surfaces of the upper tube plate 13, the upper water box 14: being associated with the tube plate 43 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the upper tube plate 28 and upper water box 29, shown in Fig. 1. A relatively thin flexible diaphragm 616, is secured to the flange 42 and to the tube sheet- 43 in any suitable manner, as by bolts or the like. In this way, an eiiicient means for taking care of expansion and contraction is readily provided, pendulumic vibration of the tube nest and the water box is prevented, and the upper portions of the combined condenser shell and the turbine may be dismantled as a unit by first breaking the joint between the diaphragm 16 and the tube plate 43.

While in the preferred form of my invention, which has Just been described, the various sections of the housing for the entire installation have been arranged to be fitted together, either vertically, or horzontally, and the various joints have been conveniently alined, it will be obvious that these refinements are not essential to my invention, but are provided to facilitate manufacture, assembly, and dismantling.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that the upper portion of the housing for the whole installation, comprising the parts 13, 16, 21 and the cap 31, may be made in one piece, if so desired. Likewise, the lower portion, comprising the parts 14, 17 and 22, may be made in one piece. Also, the sections 13, 16 and 21 of the upper portion may be made integral and in a separate piece from the cap member While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a turbine and condenser installation comprising a horizontal turbine and a vertical condenser and wherein the condenser is in the exhaust chamber of the turbine, a unitary housing structure for the turbine and the condenser including a removable upper part consisting of a turbine cover portion and a condenser shell portion, said upper part being removable to expose the turbine rotor and the condenser tube nest without removing the condenser tube nest.

2. In a turbine and condenser installation comprising a horizontal turbine and a vertical condenser and wherein the condenser is in the exhaust chamber of the turbine, a unitary housing structure for the turbine and the condenser including a removable upper part consisting of a turbine cover portion joined to a condenser shell portion, said upper'part being removable to expose the turbine rotor and the tube nest, a tube plate and a water box of the condenser without removing the tube nest, a tube plate or a water box of the condenser.

3. In a turbine and condenser installation comprising a horizontal turbine and a vertical condenser and wherein the condenser is in the exhaust chamber of the turbine, a unitary housing structure for the turbine and the condenser including separable parts joined longitudinally of the turbine, one of said separable parts being removable from the other part to expose the turbine rotor and the condenser tube nest without removing the condenser tube nest.

4. In a horizontal turbine and vertical condenser installation wherein the condenser extends into the exhaust chamber of the turbine, upper and lower groups of elements joined longitudinally to form a housing for the installation, the upper group of elements being arranged to slidably embrace the upper water box of the condenser, said upper group of elements being also capable of being removed as a unit.

5. In a power installation comprising one or more vertical condensers and a horizontal turbine arranged to exhaust into the con-- densers, the combination of upper and lower groups of elements joined longitudinally of the turbine and arranged to form a housing for the installation, the upper group of elements being capable of being removed as a unit, to expose the condenser tube nest and the turbine rotor without removing the condenser tube nest.

6. In a power installation comprising one or more vertical condensers and a horizon-e tal turbine arranged to exhaust into the condensers, the combination of upper and lower groups of elements arranged to form a l1ousing for the installation, said groups of elements being divided along the horizontal tions through which fluid flows into or out of the condenser.

7. In a power installation, the combination of one or more vertical condensers, each condenser comprising tube plates, a nest of tubes rigidly secured in the tube plates, and water boxes associated with the tube plates; a horizontal turbine arranged to exhaust into said condensers; a plurality of elements arranged in upper and lower groups to form a housing for the turbine and for the condensers, the upper group of elements being capable of being removed as a unit, to expose the turbine rotor and the tube nest, one of the tube plates and one of the water boxes of each condenser without removing the tube nest, a tube plate or a water box of the condenser.

8. A housing for a horizontal turbine and vertical condenser installation, comprising a lower member including a lower portion of the condenser shell and a lower portion of the turbine casing and an upper member ineluding an upper portion of the condenser shell and an upper portion of the turbine casing, said upper member being removable from the lower member to expose the turbine rotor and the tube nest, a tube plate and a water box of the condenser without removing the tube nest, a tube plate or a water box of the condenser.

9. A housing for a horizontal turbine and vertical condenser installation, comprising a lower member including a lower portion of the condenser shell and a lower portion of the turbine casing, an upper member including an upper portion of the condenser shell and an upper portion of the turbine casing, and a cap member for completing the upper portion of the condenser shell and for enclosing the upper water box.

10. A housing for a horizontal turbine and vertical condenser installation, comprising a lower member including a lower portion of the condenser shell and a lower portion of the turbine casing, an upper member including an upper portion of the condenser shell and an upper portion of the turbine casing, a cap member for completing the upper portion of the condenser shell and for enclosing the upper water box, and means associated with the cap member for preventing pendulumic vibration of the upper water box and the condensing surface.

11. In an installation of the typedescribed, comprising an axial flow turbine anda surface condenser having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely with respect to the turbine axis, the combination of a housing for the installation comprising a unitary member constituted by a turbine cylinder portion and a condenser shell portion and another unitary member similarly constituted and complementary to said first-mentioned unitary member, both of said unitary members being joined together in a plane extending longitudinally of the turbine and transversely of the condenser to form a continuous joint extending longitudinally of the turbine cylinder and circumferentially of the condenser shell one of said members being removable from the other member Without disengaging any of the connections through which fluid flows into or out of the condenser.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of July,

FRANCIS HODGKINSON. 

